Chapter 68

“Brilliant.” The Consumer yelled, his form that of darkness as he shifted about the football field. “Truly, brilliant.” JJ was currently chasing after The Consumer, his form enveloped by powerful winds as he used his staff to send out various magical attacks at his grandfather. The entire football stadium seemed to be enveloped in gale force winds, save for the spot where Henry stood. Around him, the massive form of a Chinese Dragon circled, its scaled form wrapped around him, its eyes watching the fight envelop with a bored expression.

The power radiating from the dragon alone, was enough to cause Henry to flinch. While JJ’s transformation had released a metric ton of essence, the power of the dragon keeping Henry safe, reminded him more of the power Emelia seemed to possess. The omnipotent, unbridled power to create and destroy on a whim.

However, the dragon didn’t take part in the fight. It simply stayed wrapped around Henry, protecting him from the winds that JJ had created for his battle against the Consumer. As far as he could tell, the dragon was bored.

“It seems your father was successful before his death.” The Consumer continued. The creature seemed more impressed with the dragon than JJ’s transformation into a literal Egyptian God. Which, put Henry even more on edge. JJ was beyond powerful, ye The Consumer seemed to be merely toying with him as it fixated on JJ’s dragon.

“His efforts got him killed.” JJ said dryly, as he continued to chase the Consumer. Smaller tornados sprang up instantly in The Consumer’s path, forcing him to dart too and fro. Meanwhile, the winds all around the stadium continued to close in on them, drawing The Consumer, and JJ, closer to the circling dragon. JJ was slowly taking away the space his grandfather, that vampiric monster, could move. Though, Henry wasn’t quite sure what the plan was once they ran out of area. After all, the Consumer seemed completely unimpressed with JJ’s form.

“As will yours.” The Consumer said with a crazed laugh. “Oh, how I will feast tonight. Truly, my dear grandson, I couldn’t ask for a better gift.”

An especially large blast of wind erupted around The Consumer, causing him to cackle even more as he drifted effortlessly through it. His dark tendrils were tracing all around the arena, seeming to be battling with JJ’s winds for control. At least, that’s how it seemed to Henry. Quite honestly, he didn’t really know what was going on.

“Tell me, Grandson.” The Consumer said, voice suddenly serious. “Do you know what happens when you summon a creature such as that?” He dodged another blast of air, the space again closing in around the fighters. So far, no blows had been traded. It was just a game of chase, and yet for some reason, JJ’s skin seemed to be cracking, blood dripping from hundreds of invisible, tiny wounds.

“Your body falls apart. Best case scenario, you die a painful death. But, more often than not, you’re consumed by the creature you summoned, and it devours every ounce of you, before turning you into its own personal puppet.” The Consumer laughed. “Or, in some instances, you create a truce of sorts, and are allowed to survive, so long as you constantly feed that demonic creature within.”

That sounded extremely similar to what JJ had said created The Consumer. It also reminded him of what Jewel had said about Fenrir. How that particular D.E.D. was known to burn through Exorcists. Yet, if that was the case, why had JJ summoned it? And, if it was so powerful, why was it merely watching the exchange?

“I know you gained Horus from your father. But who do you think he got it from? I knew what D.E.D. you had fused with, which was why I wasn’t worried.” The Consumer continued. “However, I am impressed you had gained Tianlong. Though, such a creature, will not bow to one of your power.”

The dragon keeping Henry safe seemed to chuckle, or maybe it had just breathed out a long breath, its entire body rumbling. It seemed to be solidifying even more, as JJ’s body continued to bleed profusely.

“Tianlong will humor you, because of your use of your body as a summoning medium. But it is simply biding its time, before it consumes you. You’re trying to keep your friend safe with such a creature, but when you fall, what happens?”

JJ’s breathing was ragged as he continued to chase down The Consumer. Most of the football field was completely destroyed, and they had only a circle of perhaps 20 feet to move about in, as they circled the dragon, neither daring to draw to close to it. However, Henry noticed strange markings on the ground as JJ continued to chase after the Consumer. Areas of grass that seemed to glow ever so lightly.

“I’ll kill you, before I fall.” JJ said, his voice filled with pain. “Once you’re dead, I will worry about that.” He chuckled, blood falling from his beak. “Besides, the Old Ones are coming. So it’s only a matter of time, before I die anyways.”

For a split second, The Consumer faltered. “You know?” He said. “You know, and yet you fight me?” He laughed. “Why do you think I continue to consume. I intend to feast on our world, and then theirs. I will consume the Old Ones, once I’m done feasting on this world.” The voice laughed, the sound of crackling paper. “No matter. As you said, your death, has already been foretold.”

A dark spike ripped up from the ground, punching into JJ’s chest. Then another, and another. The winds around them had forced them ever closer, giving both fighters less room to maneuver. However, even as The Consumer continued to strike JJ, the bird headed figure grinned.

“You’ve grown reckless with your power and hunger.” JJ coughed up more blood as he slammed his staff into the ground. From all around, symbols flashed with light. The symbol Henry immediately recognized as The Eye of Horus. The symbols erupted with power, and suddenly The Consumer’s darkness was ripped away from him. It was as if his entire body was being cleansed by the light, forcing the evil essence away from JJ’s grandfather, pushing it from him. The tendrils that had impacted JJ’s body were forcibly removed as well, and as the dark essence was sent flying into the swirling winds, it dissipated.

All the while, the dragon around Henry continued to vibrate, power rippling from it as it simply watched.

“You,” The Consumer gasped, half his form transformed back to that of JJ’s grandfather, while his skin seemed to be drifting away, fading apart like a D.E.D. drifting back into essence. “You would sacrifice yourself to stop me?”

JJ collapsed to one knee, more blood pooling around him. His hand slid partially down the staff, while he did his best to remain upright.

“I would sacrifice myself, to save those I care about.” His voice went soft. “My father once told me he’d been taught, by his father, that our powers were to keep the world safe. That our powers, weren’t meant to be hoarded. That our powers, were meant to save.” JJ’s form flickered, the staff disappearing as he fell forward, the fusion fading away, leaving a completely bloodied and battered body.

The Consumer laughed lightly as his body continued to disappear into essence. “Whoever told your father that, was an old, senile fool.” More of his body disappeared, as if his entire form was disintegrating. “I’ve been such a fool.” He said, as the rest of him broke apart, and he disappeared completely.

The wind all around completely stopped, leaving Henry standing there, shaking, staring at his best friend’s bloody, unmoving form.